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אֵשׁ

𐤀𐤔

ʼêsh

H784 noun

SILEX Entry

Root אשׁ to burn, fire, heat

Definition

A physical phenomenon characterized by visible flames, heat, and combustion; used literally to denote the element of fire as a natural force or as a substance. Also used metaphorically and symbolically to express concepts such as destruction, purification, divine presence, or intense emotion. In cultic and ritual contexts, denotes the fire of sacrifices and offerings, often signifying the acceptance or presence of a deity. Includes figurative uses relating to judgment, divine wrath, and intense experience.

Semantic Range

literal fire, flame, burning phenomenon, sacrificial/cultic fire, fire as divine manifestation, agent of destruction or judgment, instrument of purification, metaphor for passion or wrath

Root / Etymology

Root: אשׁ. The root אשׁ conveys the notion of burning or fire. אֵשׁ is the regular noun form for 'fire,' and its derivation appears directly from the base root meaning 'to burn' or 'fire,' making it an ancient, fundamental term in Semitic languages. No clear root verbs occur in Hebrew, suggesting it is a basic or primary noun.

Historical & Contextual Notes

The term אֵשׁ occurs throughout the Hebrew Bible in narratives, legal texts, poetry, and ritual prescriptions. In pre-monarchic and patriarchal contexts, fire often signifies the mundane phenomenon (used for cooking, warmth, etc.), while in legal and ritual contexts, it plays a central role in burnt offerings and sacrifices (e.g., Leviticus). It frequently marks divine encounters (God’s self-manifestation, e.g., burning bush, fire on Sinai, fire from heaven in Elijah narratives), often as a symbol of both destructive and purifying power. In prophetic literature, fire is a metaphor of judgment or purification. Sometimes it appears in poetic parallelism with other consuming or purifying agents (e.g., water). In later periods, its metaphorical uses expanded, but the fundamental sense as literal fire remained stable. Standard English translations render the term as "fire," but may not capture all symbolic or metaphoric connotations, particularly relating to divine or cultic presence. Care should be taken not to interpret every figurative use as spiritualized; many contexts stress material power, destruction, or transformation.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

a primitive word; fire (literally or figuratively); burning, fiery, fire, flaming, hot.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

אשׁ (ʾ-š) — burning, fire, heat

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H785 אֵשׁ fire
H787 אֹשׁ the foundations
H800 אֶשָּׁה from their altar-fire
H801 אִשָּׁה the fire-offering
H808 אָשִׁישׁ pressed fruit-cakes of

Word Forms

19 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H784-03 אֵ֔שׁ esh HNcbsa fire fire 154
H784-01 בָּ/אֵ֔שׁ baesh HRd/Ncbsa with fire in the fire 90
H784-05 הָ/אֵ֖שׁ haesh HTd/Ncbsa the fire the fire 43
H784-16 וָ/אֵ֑שׁ vaesh HC/Ncbsa with fire fire 32
H784-17 וְ/אֵ֕שׁ veesh HC/Ncbsa and fire fire 16
H784-08 כְּ/אֵ֥שׁ keesh HR/Ncbsa like fire like fire 9
H784-02 בְּ/אֵ֣שׁ beesh HR/Ncbsc in fire in fire 8
H784-10 לָ/אֵ֔שׁ laesh HRd/Ncbsa to-fire to fire 4
H784-09 כָ/אֵשׁ֙ khaesh HRd/Ncbsa like fire like fire 4
H784-07 כָּ/אֵ֖שׁ kaesh HRd/Ncbsa like fire like fire 3

Occurrences in Scripture

378 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H784-03 Genesis 15:17 אֵ֔שׁ esh HNcbsa of fire fire
H784-16 Genesis 19:24 וָ/אֵ֑שׁ vaesh HC/Ncbsa and fire fire
H784-05 Genesis 22:6 הָ/אֵ֖שׁ haesh HTd/Ncbsa the fire the fire
H784-05 Genesis 22:7 הָ/אֵשׁ֙ haesh HTd/Ncbsa the fire the fire
H784-03 Exodus 3:2 אֵ֖שׁ esh HNcbsa fire fire
H784-01 Exodus 3:2 בָּ/אֵ֔שׁ baesh HRd/Ncbsa with fire, in the fire
H784-03 Exodus 9:23 אֵ֖שׁ esh HNcbsa fire fire
H784-17 Exodus 9:24 וְ/אֵ֕שׁ veesh HC/Ncbsa and fire fire
H784-03 Exodus 12:8 אֵ֣שׁ esh HNcbsa with fire fire
H784-03 Exodus 12:9 אֵ֔שׁ esh HNcbsa fire fire
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